Flexible display device

ABSTRACT

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a flexible display device includes: a display panel which includes a display area and a bending area extending from one side of the display area to be bent; a first back plate disposed on a rear surface of the display area; a first cushion tape disposed on a rear surface of the first back plate; a heat radiation sheet disposed on a rear surface of the first cushion tape; a second cushion tape which is disposed below the heat radiation sheet and absorbs a damage from the outside; and a bottom hole which passes through the first cushion tape, the heat radiation sheet, and the second cushion tape.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No.10-2019-0159562 filed on Dec. 4, 2019, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a flexible display device, and moreparticularly, to a flexible display device in which a hole is formed ona rear surface of the display panel.

Discussion of the Related Art

As it enters the information era, a field of a display device whichvisually expresses electrical information signals has been rapidlydeveloped and studies are continued to improve performances of variousdisplay devices, such as a thin-thickness, a light weight, and low powerconsumption.

A representative display device may include a liquid crystal displaydevice (LCD), a field emission display device (FED), an electro-wettingdisplay device (EWD), and an organic light emitting display device(OLED).

An electroluminescent display device which is represented by an organiclight emitting display device is a self-emitting display device so thata separate light source is not necessary, which is different from aliquid crystal display apparatus. Therefore, the electroluminescentdisplay device may be manufactured to have a light weight and a smallthickness. Further, since the electroluminescent display device isadvantageous not only in terms of power consumption due to the lowvoltage driving, but also in terms of color implementation, a responsespeed, a viewing angle, a contrast ratio (CR), it is expected to beutilized in various fields.

In the electroluminescent display device, an emissive layer EML isdisposed between two electrodes configured by an anode and a cathode.When holes in the anode are injected into the emissive layer andelectrons in the cathode are injected into the emissive layer, theinjected holes and electrons are recombined and form excitons in theemissive layer to emit light.

The emissive layer includes a host material and a dopant material, andtwo materials interact with each other so that the host generatesexcitons from the electrons and holes and transmits energy to thedopant. The dopant is a pigment organic material which is added in asmall amount and receives the energy from the host and converts theenergy into light.

The electroluminescent display device is encapsulated with glass, metal,or film to block the flowing of the moisture or oxygen into theelectroluminescent display device. By doing this, the oxidation of theemissive layer or the electrode may be suppressed and the emissive layeror the electrode may be protected from the mechanical or physicaldamages applied from the outside.

SUMMARY

As the size of the display device is reduced, efforts are continued toreduce a bezel area which is an outer periphery of the display area toincrease an effective display screen size with the same area of thedisplay device.

However, in the bezel area corresponding to the non-display area, awiring line and a driving circuit for driving the screen are disposed sothat there is a limitation in reducing the bezel area.

Recently, with regard to a flexible electroluminescent display devicewhich maintains a display performance even though it is bent by applyinga flexible substrate of a flexible material such as plastic, there is aneffort to reduce the bezel area by bending the non-display area of theflexible substrate to reduce the bezel area while ensuring the area forthe wiring line and the driving circuit.

For the electroluminescent display device using a flexible substratesuch as plastic, it is necessary to ensure the flexibility of variousinsulating layers disposed on the substrate and the wiring lines formedof a metal material and suppress the defect such as a crack which may becaused by the bending.

In the meantime, in the flexible electroluminescent display device, inorder to embed various sensors, such as a fingerprint recognitionsensor, on a rear surface of the display panel, a hole may beadditionally formed. During the process of inserting the fingerprintrecognition sensor into the above-described hole, a physical damage maybe applied to a partial area of the display panel in which the hole isformed. Due to this, an image quality of a partial area of the displaypanel in which the hole is formed may be degraded.

Accordingly, the inventors of the present disclosure recognized theabove-mentioned problems and invented a flexible display device whichenhanced a damage absorption rate of a partial area of the display panelin which the hole was formed.

The inventors of the present disclosure invented a flexible displaydevice in which a yield of a sensor mounting process of the flexibledisplay device was improved.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to aflexible display device that substantially obviates one or more of theproblems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

Additional features and aspects will be set forth in the descriptionthat follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or maybe learned by practice of the inventive concepts provided herein. Otherfeatures and aspects of the inventive concepts may be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription, or derivable therefrom, and the claims hereof as well asthe appended drawings.

To achieve these and other aspects of the inventive concepts, asembodied and broadly described, a flexible display device comprises: adisplay panel which includes a display area and a bending area extendingfrom one side of the display area to be bent; a first back platedisposed on a rear surface of the display area; a first cushion tapedisposed on a rear surface of the first back plate; a heat radiationsheet disposed on a rear surface of the first cushion tape; a secondcushion tape which is disposed below the heat radiation sheet andabsorbs a damage from the outside; and a bottom hole which passesthrough the first cushion tape, the heat radiation sheet, and the secondcushion tape.

In another aspect, a flexible display device comprises: a display panelwhich includes a first flat portion, a second flat portion, and a curvedportion located between the first flat portion and the second flatportion; a first back plate disposed on a rear surface of the first flatportion of the display panel; a first back plate disposed on a rearsurface of the first flat portion of the display panel; a first cushiontape and a heat radiation sheet disposed between the first back plateand the second back plate; a bottom hole which passes through the firstcushion tape and the heat radiation sheet; and a second cushion tapewhich encloses an entrance of the bottom hole and absorbs a damage fromthe outside.

Other detailed matters of the exemplary embodiments are included in thedetailed description and the drawings.

In the flexible display device according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the second cushion tape which absorbs the damageis disposed in the bottom hole so that the defective image due to thedent in accordance with the sensor inserting process may be suppressed.

The flexible display device according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure may improve a yield of the process of inserting thesensor into the bottom hole of the flexible substrate.

The effects of the flexible display device according to the exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the contentsexemplified above, and more various effects are included in the presentspecification.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the inventive concepts asclaimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain various principles. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a flexible display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a sub pixel included in a flexibledisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flexible display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flexible display device according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bending state of a flexible displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a flexible display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III′ of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display device accordingto the related art;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of a flexible display deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a flexible display apparatus according tostill another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV′ of FIG.11; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display apparatusaccording to still another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Advantages and characteristics of the present disclosure and a method ofachieving the advantages and characteristics will be clear by referringto exemplary embodiments described below in detail together with theaccompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited tothe exemplary embodiments disclosed herein but will be implemented invarious forms. The exemplary embodiments are provided by way of exampleonly so that those skilled in the art can fully understand thedisclosures of the present disclosure and the scope of the presentdisclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure will be defined only bythe scope of the appended claims.

The shapes, sizes, ratios, angles, numbers, and the like illustrated inthe accompanying drawings for describing the exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure are merely examples, and the present disclosureis not limited thereto. Like reference numerals generally denote likeelements throughout the specification. Further, in the followingdescription of the present disclosure, a detailed explanation of knownrelated technologies may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thesubject matter of the present disclosure. The terms such as “including,”“having,” and “consist of” used herein are generally intended to allowother components to be added unless the terms are used with the term“only”. Any references to singular may include plural unless expresslystated otherwise.

Components are interpreted to include an ordinary error range even ifnot expressly stated.

When the position relation between two parts is described using theterms such as “on”, “above”, “below”, and “next”, one or more parts maybe positioned between the two parts unless the terms are used with theterm “immediately” or “directly”.

When an element or layer is disposed “on” another element or layer,another layer or another element may be interposed directly on the otherelement or therebetween.

Although the terms “first”, “second”, and the like are used fordescribing various components, these components are not confined bythese terms. These terms are merely used for distinguishing onecomponent from the other components.

Therefore, a first component to be mentioned below may be a secondcomponent in a technical concept of the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals generally denote like elements throughout thespecification.

A size and a thickness of each component illustrated in the drawing areillustrated for convenience of description, and the present disclosureis not limited to the size and the thickness of the componentillustrated.

The features of various embodiments of the present disclosure can bepartially or entirely adhered to or combined with each other and can beinterlocked and operated in technically various ways, and theembodiments can be carried out independently of or in association witheach other.

Hereinafter, a flexible display device according to exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail withreference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a flexible display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a flexible display device 100 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes an imageprocessor 151, a timing controller 152, a data driver 153, a gate driver154, and a display panel 110.

The image processor 151 outputs a data signal DATA supplied from theoutside and a data enable signal DE. The image processor 151 may outputone or more of a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontalsynchronization signal, and a clock signal in addition to the dataenable signal DE.

The timing controller 152 is supplied with the data signal DATA togetherwith a driving signal including the data enable signal DE or thevertical synchronization signal, the horizontal synchronization signal,and the clock signal, from the image processor 151. The timingcontroller 152 may output a gate timing control signal GDC forcontrolling an operation timing of the gate driver 154 and a data timingcontrol signal DDC for controlling an operation timing of the datadriver 153, based on the driving signal.

The data driver 153 samples and latches the data signal DATA suppliedfrom the timing controller 152 in response to the data timing controlsignal DDC supplied from the timing controller 152 to convert the datasignal into a gamma reference voltage and output the converted gammareference voltage. The data driver 153 outputs the data signal DATAthrough data lines DL1 to DLn.

The gate driver 154 may output the gate signal while shifting a level ofthe gate voltage, in response to the gate timing control signal GDCsupplied from the timing controller 152. The gate driver 154 may outputthe gate signal through gate lines GL1 to GLm.

The display panel 110 may display images while a sub pixel P emits lightin response to the data signal DATA and the gate signal supplied fromthe data driver 153 and the gate driver 154. A detailed structure of thesub pixel P will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 4A,and 4B.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a sub pixel included in a flexibledisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the sub pixel of the flexible display device 100according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includesa switching transistor ST, a driving transistor DT, a compensationcircuit 135, and a light emitting diode 130.

The light emitting diode 130 may operate to emit light in accordancewith a driving current formed by the driving transistor DT.

The switching transistor ST may perform a switching operation such thata data signal supplied through the data line 117 is stored in scapacitor as a data voltage in response to a gate signal suppliedthrough the gate line 116.

The driving transistor DT may operate to flow a predetermined drivingcurrent between a high potential power line VDD and a low potentialpower line GND in response to a data voltage stored in the capacitor.

The compensation circuit 135 is a circuit for compensating for athreshold voltage of the driving transistor DT and incudes one or morethin film transistors and capacitors. A configuration of thecompensation circuit 135 may vary depending on a compensating method.

For example, the sub pixel illustrated in FIG. 2 is configured by a 2T(transistor) 1C (capacitor) structure including a switching transistorST, a driving transistor DT, a capacitor, and a light emitting diode130. When the compensation circuit 135 is added, the sub pixel may beformed in various forms such as 3T1C, 4T2C, 5T2C, 6T1C, 6T2C, 7T1C, and7T2C.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flexible display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which a flexible substrate 111 of theflexible display device 110 according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure is not bent as an example.

Referring to FIG. 3, the flexible display device 110 may include adisplay area AA in which a pixel which actually emits light by a thinfilm transistor and a light emitting diode is disposed on the flexiblesubstrate 111 and a non-display area NA which is a bezel area enclosingan edge of the display area AA.

In the non-display area NA of the flexible substrate 111, a circuit suchas a gate driver 154 for driving the flexible display device 110 andvarious signal lines such as a scan line SL may be disposed.

The circuit for driving the flexible display device 110 may be disposedon the substrate 111 in a gate in panel (GIP) manner or connected to theflexible substrate 111 in a tape carrier package (TCP) or a chip on film(COF) manner.

At one side of the substrate 111 of the non-display area NA, a pad 155which is a metal pattern is disposed so that an external module may bebonded thereto.

A part of the non-display area NA of the flexible substrate 111 is bentin a bending direction as illustrated by an arrow to form a bending areaBA.

The non-display area NA of the flexible substrate 111 is an area where awiring line and a driving circuit for driving a screen are disposed. Thenon-display area NA is not an area where the images are displayed sothat the non-display area does not need to be visible from a top surfaceof the flexible substrate 111. Accordingly, a partial area of thenon-display area NA of the flexible substrate 111 is bent to reduce thebezel area BA while ensuring an area for the wiring lines and thedriving circuit.

Various wiring lines may be formed on the flexible substrate 111. Thewiring line may be formed in the display area AA of the substrate 111 ora circuit line 140 formed in the non-display area NA connects thedriving circuit, the gate driver or the data driver to each other totransmit a signal.

The circuit line 140 is formed of a conductive material and may beformed of a conductive material having an excellent ductility to reducethe crack generated at the time of bending the substrate 111. Thecircuit line 140 may be formed of a conductive material having anexcellent ductility such as gold (Au), silver (Ag), or aluminum (Al) ormay be formed of one of various conductive materials used in the displayarea AA. The circuit line 140 may also be formed of molybdenum (Mo),chrome (Cr), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), copper (Cu),and an alloy of silver (Ag) and magnesium (Mg).

The circuit line 140 may be configured by a multi-layered structureincluding various conductive materials and for example, configured by atriple layered structure of titanium (Ti)/aluminum (Al)/titanium (Ti),but is not limited thereto.

When the circuit line 140 formed in the bending area BA is bent, atensile force is applied thereto. The largest tensile force may beapplied to the circuit line 140 which extends in the same direction asthe bending direction on the flexible substrate 111 so that the circuitline may be cracked or disconnected. Therefore, the circuit line 140 isnot formed to extend in the bending direction, but at least a part ofthe circuit line 140 disposed to include the bending area BA is formedto extend in a diagonal direction which is different from the bendingdirection so that the tensile force may be minimized.

The circuit line 140 disposed to include the bending area BA may beformed in various shapes, for example, may be formed with a trapezoidalwave shape, a triangular wave shape, a sawtooth wave shape, a sinusoidalwave shape, an omega (Q) shape, or a rhombus shape.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I′ of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II′ of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is a cross-section I-I′ of a detailed structure of the displayarea AA illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the substrate 111 serves to support and protectcomponents of the flexible display device 100 disposed thereabove.

Recently, the flexible substrate 111 may use a soft material having aflexible characteristic such as plastic.

The flexible substrate 111 may be a film type including one of a groupconsisting of a polyester-based polymer, a silicon-based polymer, anacrylic polymer, a polyolefin-based polymer, and a copolymer thereof.

For example, the flexible substrate 111 may be formed of at least one ofpolyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT),polysilane, polysiloxane, polysilazane, polycarbosilane, polyacrylate,polymethacrylate, polymethylacrylate, polymethylmetacrylate,polyethylacrylate, polyethylmetacrylate, cycloolefin copolymer (COC),cycloolefin polymer (COP), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP),polyimide (PI), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS),polyacetal (POM), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyester sulfone(PES), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC),polycarbonate (PC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), perfluoroalkylpolymer (PFA), styrene acrylic nitrile copolymer (SAN), and acombinations thereof.

A buffer layer may be further disposed on the flexible substrate 111.The buffer layer suppresses permeation of moisture or other impuritiesthrough the flexible substrate 111 and planarizes a surface of theflexible substrate 111. The buffer layer is not an essential componentand may be omitted depending on a type of a thin film transistor 120disposed on the flexible substrate 111.

The thin film transistor 120 is disposed on the flexible substrate 111and includes a gate electrode 121, a source electrode 122, a drainelectrode 123, and a semiconductor layer 124.

In this case, the semiconductor layer 124 may be configured by amorphoussilicon or polycrystalline silicon but is not limited thereto. Thepolycrystalline silicon has a more excellent mobility than that of theamorphous silicon so that energy power consumption is low, and areliability is excellent. Therefore, the polycrystalline silicon may beapplied to the driving thin film transistor in the pixel.

The semiconductor layer 124 may be configured by an oxide semiconductor.The oxide semiconductor has excellent mobility and uniformity. The oxidesemiconductor may be configured by an indium tin gallium zinc oxide(InSnGaZnO) based material which is a quaternary metal oxide, an indiumgallium zinc oxide (InGaZnO) based material, an indium tin zinc oxide(InSnZnO) based material, a tin gallium zinc oxide (SnGaZnO) basedmaterial, an aluminum gallium zinc oxide (AlGaZnO) based material, anindium aluminum zinc oxide (InAlZnO) based material, a tin aluminum zincoxide (SnAlZnO) based material which are ternary metal oxides, an indiumzinc oxide (InZnO) based material, a tin zinc oxide (SnZnO) basedmaterial, an aluminum zinc oxide (AlZnO) based material, a zincmagnesium oxide (ZnMgO) based material, a tin magnesium oxide (SnMgO)based material, an indium magnesium oxide (InMgO) based material, anindium gallium oxide (InGaO) based material, which are bimetallicoxides, an indium oxide (InO) based material, a tin oxide (SnO) basedmaterial, and a zinc oxide (ZnO), but a composition ratio of individualelements is not limited.

The semiconductor layer 124 includes a source region and a drain regionincluding a p-type or n-type impurity, and a channel region between thesource region and the drain region and further includes a lightly dopedregion between the source region and the drain region which are adjacentto the channel region.

The source region and the drain region are areas where the impuritiesare highly doped and the source electrode 122 and the drain electrode123 of the thin film transistor 120 may be connected thereto,respectively.

As an impurity ion, a p-type impurity or an n-type impurity is used. Thep-type impurity may be one of boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga),and indium (In) and the n-type impurity may be one of phosphorus (P),arsenic (As), and antimony (Sb).

The channel region of the semiconductor layer 124 may be doped with then-type impurity or the p-type impurity in accordance with the NMOS orPMOS thin film transistor structure. As the thin film transistorincluded in the flexible display device 100 according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, the NMOS or the PMOS thin filmtransistor may be applicable.

A first insulating layer 115 a is an insulating layer which isconfigured by a single layer or multiple layers of silicon oxide (SiOx)or silicon nitride (SiNx) and is disposed such that the current flowingin the semiconductor layer 124 does not flow into the gate electrode121. The silicon oxide has a ductility which is lower than that of metalbut is better than that of the silicon nitride and may be formed by asignal layer or multiple layers depending on the characteristic.

The gate electrode 121 serves as a switch which turns on or off the thinfilm transistor 120 based on an electric signal transmitted from theoutside through a gate line. The gate electrode may be configured by asingle layer or multiple layers of copper (Cu), aluminum (Al),molybdenum (Mo), chrome (Cr), gold (Au), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), andneodymium (Nd) which are conductive metals or an alloy thereof, but isnot limited thereto.

The source electrode 122 and the drain electrode 123 are connected tothe data line and allow the electrical signal transmitted from theoutside to be transmitted from the thin film transistor 120 to the lightemitting diode 130. The source electrode 122 and the drain electrode 123may be configured by a single layer or multiple layers of a metalmaterial such as copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), chrome(Cr), gold (Au), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), and neodymium (Nd) whichare conductive metals or an alloy thereof, but are not limited thereto.

In order to insulate the gate electrode 121 from the source electrode122 and the drain electrode 123, a second insulating layer 115 b whichis configured by a single layer or multiple layers of silicon oxide(SiOx) or silicon nitride (SiNx) may be disposed between the gateelectrode 121 and the source electrode 122 and the drain electrode 123.

A passivation layer which is configured by an inorganic insulating layersuch as silicon oxide (SiOx) or silicon nitride (SiNx) may be furtherdisposed on the thin film transistor 120.

The passivation layer may serve to suppress unnecessary electricalconnection between components above and below the passivation layer andsuppress contamination or damage from the outside. However, thepassivation layer may be omitted in accordance with a configuration anda characteristic of the thin film transistor 120 and the light emittingdiode 130.

The thin film transistor 120 may be classified into an invertedstaggered structure and a coplanar structure depending on the positionof the components which configure the thin film transistor 120. Forexample, in the thin film transistor with an inverted staggeredstructure, the gate electrode may be located on the opposite side of thesource electrode and the drain electrode with the semiconductor layertherebetween. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, in the thin film transistor 120with a coplanar structure, the gate electrode 121 may be located on thesame side as the source electrode 122 and the drain electrode 123 withrespect to the semiconductor layer 124.

Even though in FIG. 4A, the thin film transistor 120 with a coplanarstructure has been illustrated, the flexible display device 100according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure mayinclude a thin film transistor with an inverted staggered structure.

For the convenience of description, FIG. 4A illustrates only a drivingthin film transistor among various thin film transistors which may beincluded in the flexible display device 100. However, a switching thinfilm transistor and a capacitor may also be included in the flexibledisplay device 100.

When a signal is applied from the gate line, the switching thin filmtransistor transmits a signal from the data line to the gate electrodeof the driving thin film transistor. The driving thin film transistortransmits a current, which is transmitted through a power line by thesignal transmitted from the switching thin film transistor, to the anode131 and controls the emission by the current which is transmitted to theanode 131.

Planarization layers 115 c and 115 d are disposed on the thin filmtransistor 120 to protect the thin film transistor 120, relieve a stepgenerated due to the thin film transistor 120, and reduce a parasiticcapacitance generated between the thin film transistor 120, the gateline and the data line, and the light emitting diodes 130.

The planarization layers 115 c and 115 d may be formed of one or morematerials of acrylic resin, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, polyamidesresin, polyimides resin, unsaturated polyesters resin, polyphenyleneresin, polyphenylene sulfides resin, and benzocyclobutene, but are notlimited thereto.

The flexible display device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure may include a first planarization layer 115 c anda second planarization layer 115 d which are sequentially laminated.That is, the first planarization layer 115 c is disposed on the thinfilm transistor 120 and the second planarization layer 115 d is disposedon the first planarization layer 115 c.

A buffer layer may be disposed on the first planarization layer 115 c.The buffer layer may be configured by multiple layers of silicon oxide(SiOx) to protect the component disposed on the first planarizationlayer 115 c and may be omitted in accordance with the configuration andthe characteristic of the thin film transistor 120 and the lightemitting diode 130.

An intermediate electrode 125 may be connected to the thin filmtransistor 120 through the contact hole formed on the firstplanarization layer 115 c. The intermediate electrode 125 is laminatedso as to be connected to the thin film transistor 120 so that the dataline may also be formed to have a double layered structure.

The data line may be formed to have a structure in which a lower layerformed of the same material as the source electrode 122 and the drainelectrode 123 and an upper layer formed of the same material as theintermediate electrode 125 are connected. That is, the data line may beimplemented with a structure in which two layers are connected inparallel so that a line resistance of the data line may be reduced.

In the meantime, a passivation layer which is configured by an inorganicinsulating layer such as silicon oxide (SiOx) or silicon nitride (SiNx)may be further disposed on the first planarization layer 115 c and theintermediate electrode 125. The passivation layer may serve to suppressunnecessary electrical connection between components and suppresscontamination or damage from the outside. However, the passivation layermay be omitted in accordance with the configuration and thecharacteristic of the thin film transistor 120 and the light emittingdiode 130.

The light emitting diode 130 disposed on the second planarization layer115 d includes an anode 131, a light emitting unit 132, and a cathode133.

The anode 131 may be disposed on the second planarization layer 115 d.

The anode 131 is an electrode serving to supply holes to the lightemitting unit 132 and is connected to the intermediate electrode 125through the contact hole on the second planarization layer 115 d to beelectrically connected to the thin film transistor 120.

The anode 131 may be configured by indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinoxide (IZO) which are transparent conductive materials but is notlimited thereto.

When the flexible display device 100 is a top emission type which emitslight to an upper portion on which the cathode 133 is disposed, theflexible display device 100 may further include a reflective layer tocause the emitted light to be reflected from the anode 131 and be moreeasily emitted to an upper direction where the cathode 133 is disposed.

The anode 131 may have a double-layered structure in which a transparentconductive layer configured by a transparent conductive layer and areflective layer are sequentially laminated. Further, the anode may havea triple-layered structure in which a transparent conductive layer, areflective layer, and a transparent conductive layer are sequentiallylaminated, and the reflective layer may be silver (Ag) or an alloyincluding silver.

A bank 115 e disposed on the anode 131 and the second planarizationlayer 115 d may divide an area which actually emits light to define asub pixel. The bank 115 e may be formed by photolithography afterforming a photoresist on the anode 131. The photoresist refers to aphotosensitive resin whose solubility in a developer is changed by theaction of light, and a specific pattern can be obtained by exposing anddeveloping the photoresist. The photoresist may be classified into apositive photoresist and a negative photoresist. The positivephotoresist is a photoresist whose solubility of the exposed portion inthe developer is increased by the exposure. When the positivephotoresist is developed, a pattern from which exposed portions areremoved is obtained. The negative photoresist is a photoresist whosesolubility of the exposed portion in the developer is significantlylowered by the exposure. When the negative photoresist is developed, apattern from which non-exposed portions are removed is obtained.

In order to form the light emitting unit 132 of the light emitting diode130, a fine metal mask (FMM) which is a deposition mask may be used.

In order to suppress a damage which may be caused by contact with thedeposition mask disposed on the bank 115 e and maintain a predetermineddistance between the bank 115 e and the deposition mask, a spacer 115 fmay be disposed above the bank 115 e. The spacer 115 f is configured byone of polyimide, photoacryl, and benzocyclobutene (BCB) which aretransparent organic materials.

The light emitting unit 132 is disposed between the anode 131 and thecathode 133.

The light emitting unit 132 serves to emit light and includes at leastone of a hole injection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer (HTL), anemissive layer, an electron transport layer (ETL), and an electroninjection layer (EIL). Some components may be omitted depending on thestructure or the characteristic of the flexible display device 100.Here, as the emissive layer, an electroluminescent layer and aninorganic emissive layer may also be applied.

The hole injection 131 is disposed on the anode 131 to smoothly injectthe holes.

The hole transport layer is disposed on the hole injection layer tosmoothly transmit the holes to the emissive layer.

The emissive layer is disposed on the hole transport layer and includesa material which emits specific color light to emit specific colorlight. The light emitting material may be formed using a phosphor or afluorescent material.

The electron injection layer may be further disposed on the electrontransport layer. The electron injection layer is an organic layer whichsmoothly injects the electrons from the cathode 133 and may be omittedin accordance with the structure and the characteristic of the flexibledisplay device 100.

In the meantime, an electron blocking layer or a hole blocking layerwhich blocks the flow of holes or electrons is further disposed to beclose to the emissive layer. Therefore, a phenomenon that when theelectrons are injected to the emissive layer, the electrons move fromthe emissive layer to pass through an adjacent hole transport layer orwhen the holes are injected to the emissive layer, the holes move fromthe emissive layer to pass through an adjacent electron transport layeris suppressed. Therefore, the luminous efficiency may be improved.

The cathode 133 is disposed on the light emitting unit 132 to supplyelectrons to the light emitting unit 132. Since the cathode 133 needs tosupply electrons, the cathode 133 may be configured by a metal materialwhich is a conductive material having a low work function such asmagnesium (Mg) or silver-magnesium (Ag:Mg), but is not limited thereto.

When the flexible display device 100 is a top emission type, the cathode133 may be indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium tinzinc oxide (ITZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and tin oxide (TiO) basedtransparent conductive oxide.

An encapsulating unit 115 g may be disposed on the light emitting diode130 to suppress oxidation or damage of the thin film transistor 120 andthe light emitting diode 130 which are components of theelectroluminescent display device 100, due to moisture, oxygen, orimpurities entering from the outside. The encapsulating unit 115 g maybe formed by laminating a plurality of encapsulating layers and aforeign matter compensating layer, and a plurality of barrier films.

The encapsulating layer is disposed on an entire upper surface of thethin film transistor 120 and the light emitting diode 130 and may beconfigured by one of silicon nitride (SiNx) or aluminum oxide (AlyOz)which are inorganic materials but is not limited thereto. Anencapsulating layer may be further disposed on the foreign mattercompensating layer disposed on the encapsulating layer.

The foreign matter compensating layer is disposed on the encapsulatinglayer and may use silicon oxycarbon (SIOCz), acryl, or epoxy basedresin, which is an organic material, but is not limited thereto. When adefect is caused by the crack generated by foreign material or particlesduring the process, the foreign matter compensating layer may compensatefor the defect by covering the curvature or the foreign materials.

A barrier film is disposed on the encapsulating layer and the foreignmatter compensating layer so that the flexible display device 100 maydelay the permeation of the oxygen and moisture from the outside. Thebarrier film is formed as a light-transmissive and double-sided adhesivefilm and configured by any one of olefin, acrylic, and silicon basedinsulating materials. Further, a barrier film configured by any one ofcyclic olefin polymer (COP), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), andpolycarbonate (PC) may be further laminated, but the present disclosureis not limited thereto.

FIG. 4B is a cross-section II-II′ of a detailed structure of the bendingarea BA described with reference to FIG. 3.

Some components of FIG. 4B are substantially same/similar to componentsillustrated in FIG. 4A and a description thereof will be omitted.

The gate signal and the data signal described with reference to FIGS. 1to 3 are transmitted to a pixel disposed in the display area AA via acircuit line disposed in the non-display area NA of the flexible displaydevice 100 from the outside to emit light.

When the wiring line disposed in the non-active area N/A including thebending area BA of the flexible display device 100 is formed of a singlelayered structure, more spaces for disposing the wiring lines arerequired. After depositing the conductive material, a conductivematerial is patterned by an etching process to form a desired shape ofthe wiring line. However, since there is a limitation in fineness of theetching process, more spaces are required due to the limitation innarrowing an interval between wiring lines. Therefore, a size of thenon-active area NA is increased, so that there may be a difficulty inimplementing a narrow bezel.

Further, when one wiring line is used to transmit one signal, if thecorresponding wiring line is cracked, the signal may not be transmitted.

A crack is generated in the wiring line during the process of bendingthe substrate 111 or a crack is generated on another layer to bepropagated to the wiring line. As described above, when the crack isgenerated in the wiring line, the signal to be transmitted may not betransmitted.

Therefore, the wiring line disposed in the bending area BA of theflexible display device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be disposed as a dual wiring line of a firstwiring line 141 and a second wiring line 142.

The first wiring line 141 and the second wiring line 142 are formed of aconductive material. The first wiring line 141 and the second wiringline 142 may be formed of a conductive material having an excellentductility to reduce the crack generated during the bending of theflexible substrate 111.

The first wiring line 141 and the second wiring line 142 may be formedof a conductive material having an excellent ductility such as gold(Au), silver (Ag), or aluminum (Al). The first wiring line 141 and thesecond wiring line 142 may be formed by one of various conductivematerials used in the display area AA, and may also be formed ofmolybdenum (Mo), chrome (Cr), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), neodymium(Nd), copper (Cu), and an alloy of silver (Ag) and magnesium (Mg).Further, the first wiring line 141 and the second wiring line 142 may beconfigured by a multi-layered structure including various conductivematerials and for example, configured by a triple layered structure oftitanium (Ti)/aluminum (Al)/titanium (Ti), but are not limited thereto.

In order to protect the first wiring line 141 and the second wiring line142, a buffer layer formed of an inorganic insulating layer may bedisposed below the first wiring line 141 and the second wiring line 142.Alternatively, a passivation layer formed of an inorganic insulatinglayer is formed to enclose an upper portion and a side portion of thefirst wiring line 141 and the second wiring line 142. Therefore,corrosion of the first wiring line 141 and the second wiring line 142caused by reaction with moisture may be avoided.

When the first wiring line 141 and the second wiring line 142 formed inthe bending area BA are bent, a tensile force may be applied. Asdescribed with reference to FIG. 3, the largest tensile force is appliedto a wiring line extending in the same direction as the bendingdirection on the substrate 111 and a crack may be generated in thewiring line. When the severe crack is generated, the wiring line may bebroken. Therefore, the wiring line is not formed to extend in thebending direction, but at least a part of the wiring line disposed toinclude the bending area BA is formed to extend in a diagonal directionwhich is different from the bending direction so that the tensile forceis minimized to minimize the generation of crack. The shape of thewiring lines may be configured by a rhombus shape, a triangular waveshape, a sinusoidal wave shape, or a trapezoidal shape, but is notlimited thereto.

The first wiring line 141 is disposed on the substrate 111 and the firstplanarization layer 115 c is disposed on the first wiring line 141. Thesecond wiring line 142 is disposed on the first planarization layer 115c and the second planarization layer 115 d is disposed on the secondwiring line 142. The first planarization layer 115 c and the secondplanarization layer 115 d may be formed of one or more materials ofacrylic resin, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, polyamides resin, polyimidesresin, unsaturated polyesters resin, polyphenylene resin, polyphenylenesulfides resin, and benzocyclobutene, but is not limited thereto.

A micro coating layer (MCL) 145 may be disposed on the secondplanarization layer 115 d.

Since a tensile force is applied to a wiring unit disposed above thesubstrate 111 at the time of bending to cause a crack, the micro coatinglayer 145 may be formed by coating a position to be bent with a resinwith a small thickness to protect the wiring line.

The micro coating layer 145 may be configured by an acrylic materialsuch as acrylate polymer, but it is not limited thereto.

The micro coating layer 145 may adjust a neutral plane of the bendingarea BA.

As described above, the neutral plane means a virtual plane that is notstressed because the compressive force and the tensile force applied tothe structure are canceled each other when the structure is bent. Whentwo or more structures are laminated, a virtual neutral plane may beformed between the structures. When the entire structure is bent in onedirection, structures disposed in the bending direction with respect tothe neutral plane are compressed by the bending so that a compressiveforce is applied thereto. In contrast, the structures which are disposedin an opposite direction to the bending direction with respect to theneutral plane are stretched due to the bending so that a tensile forceis applied thereto. Normally, when the structures are applied with thetensile force between the compressive force and the tensile force, thestructures are more susceptible, so that when the tensile force isapplied, the structures are more likely to be cracked.

The flexible substrate of the display panel 110 disposed below theneutral plane is compressed to be applied with the compressive force andthe circuit lines 140 disposed above the neutral plane are applied withthe tensile force so that the cracks may be generated due to the tensileforce. Therefore, in order to minimize the tensile force applied to thecircuit line 140, the wiring lines may be located on the neutral plane.

The micro coating layer 145 is disposed on the bending area BA to raisethe neutral plane to the upward direction and the neutral plane isformed in the same position as the circuit line 140 or the circuit lineis disposed to be higher than the neutral plane. Therefore, the stressis not applied, or the compressive force is applied at the time ofbending, so that the crack may be suppressed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flexible display device according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bending state of a flexible displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an example in which one side, for example, alower side of the flexible display device is bent.

Referring to FIG. 5, the flexible display device 100 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a substrate111 and a circuit element 161.

The substrate 111 may be partitioned into a display area AA and anon-display area NA which is a bezel area enclosing an edge of thedisplay area AA.

The non-display area AA may include a pad unit PA defined at an outsideof the display area AA. A plurality of sub pixels may be disposed in thedisplay area AA. The sub pixels are disposed in the display area AA inthe red (R), green (G), and blue (B) manner or the R, G, B, and W(white) manner to implement full colors. The sub pixels may bepartitioned by a gate line and a data line which intersect each other.

The circuit element 161 may include bumps (or terminals). The bump ofthe circuit element 161 may be bonded to pads of the pad unit PA bymeans of an anisotropic conductive film. The circuit element 161 may bea chip on film (COF) in which a driving IC 165 is mounted in a flexiblefilm.

Further, the circuit element 161 may be implemented by a COG type to bedirectly bonded to the pads on the substrate by a chip on glass (COG)process. Further, the circuit element 161 may be a flexible circuit suchas a flexible flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). Inthe following exemplary embodiment, as an example of the circuit element161, the COF will be mainly described, but the present disclosure is notlimited thereto.

Driving signals supplied through the circuit element 161 such as a gatesignal and a data signal may be supplied to the gate line and the datalines of the display area AA through the circuit line 140 such as arouting line.

In the flexible display device 100, a sufficient space where the padunit PA and the circuit element 161 are located needs to be ensured inaddition to the display area AA in which an input image is implement.The space corresponds to a bezel area and the bezel is perceived by theuser located on the front surface of the flexible display device 100,which may degrade aesthetics somewhat.

Referring to FIG. 6, the flexible display device 100 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be bent in a reardirection so that a lower edge of the substrate 111 has a predeterminedcurvature.

The lower edge of the substrate 111 may correspond to an outside of thedisplay area AA and may correspond to an area where the pad unit PA islocated. As the substrate 111 is bent, the pad unit PA may be located tooverlap the display area AA in a rear direction of the display area AA.Therefore, the bezel area which is perceived from the front surface ofthe flexible display device 100 may be minimized. Therefore, the bezelwidth is reduced so that the aesthetics may be improved.

To this end, the substrate 111 may be formed of a flexible materialwhich is bendable. For example, the substrate 111 may be formed of aplastic material such as polyimide (PI). The circuit line 140 may beformed of a material having a flexibility. For example, the circuit line140 may be formed of a material such as metal nano wire, metal mesh,carbon nano tube (CNT), but it is not limited thereto.

The circuit lines 140 extend from the display area AA to be disposed inthe bending area BA. That is, the circuit lines 140 may extend in thebending area BA along an outer circumferential surface of the substrate111.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a flexible display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III′ of FIG.7.

Specifically, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a bending area BA of aflexible display device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure and a part of the display area AA in which a bottomhole BH is formed.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the flexible display device 100 according tothe exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes back plates101 a and 101 b, a display panel 110, a circuit element 161, apolarization plate 162, an adhesive layer 163, a cover glass 164, adriving IC 165, a light shielding pattern 167, a first cushion tape 172,a heat radiation sheet 173, and a second cushion tape 180.

The display panel 110 may include a first flat portion, a second flatportion, and a curved portion between the first flat portion and thesecond flat portion. The first flat portion corresponds to the displayarea AA having a plurality of sub pixels and maintains a flat state. Thesecond flat portion is opposite to the first flat portion, correspondsto the pad unit PA having pads which are bonded to the circuit element161, and maintains a flat state. The curved portion is an area where thecircuit lines 140 which connect the display area AA and the pad unit PAare provided and maintains a bending state with a predeterminedcurvature.

In this case, for example, the curved portion may have a shape of “⊃”.That is, the curved portion may extend from the first flat portion to bebent at 180° in the rear direction so that the second flat portionextending from the curved portion may overlap the first flat portion inthe rear direction of the first flat portion. That is, the circuitelement 161 which is bonded to the display panel 110 in the second flatportion may be located in the rear direction of the display panel 110 ofthe first flat portion.

Even though it is not illustrated in the drawing, a barrier film may bedisposed above the display panel 110.

The barrier film is a component which protects various components of thedisplay panel 110 and may be disposed so as to correspond to at leastthe display area AA of the display panel 110. The barrier film is not anessential component and may be omitted depending on the structure of theflexible display device 100. The barrier film may be configured toinclude an adhesive material and the adhesive material may be athermally curable or naturally curable adhesive and configured by thematerial such as pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) so as to serve to fixthe polarization plate 162 on the barrier film.

The polarization plate 162 disposed on the barrier film is disposed onthe display area AA to suppress the reflection of the external light.When the display device 100 is used at the outside, external naturallight enters to be reflected by a reflective layer included in the anodeof the electroluminescent element or reflected by an electrode which isformed of a metal and disposed below the electroluminescent element.Therefore, the image of the display device 100 may not be visiblyrecognized due to the light reflected as described above. Thepolarization plate 162 polarizes the light entering from the outside toa specific direction and suppresses the reflected light from beingemitted to the outside of the display device 100. The polarization plate162 may be disposed on the display area AA but is not limited thereto.

The polarization plate 162 may be configured by a polarizer and aprotective film which protects the polarizer and may be formed bycoating a polarization material for ensuring flexibility.

An adhesive layer 163 is disposed on the polarization plate 162 to bonda cover glass 164 which protects an outer appearance of the displaydevice 100. That is, the cover glass 164 is provided to cover the frontsurface of the display panel 110 to protect the display panel 110. Theabove-described adhesive layer 163 may include an optically clearadhesive (OCA).

The light shielding pattern 167 may be formed on four edges of thedisplay panel 110. The light shielding pattern 167 may be formed on anupper edge of the display panel 110. The light shielding pattern 167 maybe formed to overlap a part of the polarization plate 162 and a part ofthe display panel 110 between the polarization plate 162 and the displaypanel 110, but it is not limited thereto.

The light shielding pattern 167 may be applied with black ink. In someexemplary embodiments, the light shielding pattern 167 may be configuredby chrome (Cr) or graphite or a resin including conductive particles.The planarization layers 115 c and 115 d may be formed of one or morematerials of acrylic resin, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, polyamidesresin, polyimides resin, unsaturated polyesters resin, polyphenyleneresin, polyphenylene sulfides resin, and benzocyclobutene, but are notlimited thereto. The conductive particle may also be formed ofmolybdenum (Mo), chrome (Cr), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), neodymium(Nd), copper (Cu), and an alloy of silver (Ag) and magnesium (Mg) but isnot limited thereto.

Even though it is not illustrated in the drawing, a touch screen panelmay be further disposed above the display panel 110. In this case, thepolarization plate 162 may be located above the touch screen panel. Whenthe touch screen panel is included, the cover glass 164 may be providedto cover at least a part of the touch screen panel.

The touch screen panel includes a plurality of touch sensors. The touchsensor may be disposed in a position corresponding to the display areaAA of the display panel 110. The touch sensor may include at least oneof a mutual capacitive sensor and a self-capacitive sensor.

The mutual capacitive sensor includes a mutual capacitance formedbetween two touch electrodes. The mutual capacitance sensing circuitapplies a driving signal (or a stimulus signal) to any one of twoelectrodes and senses a touch input based on a charge changing amount ofthe mutual capacitance by the other electrode. When a conductorapproaches the mutual capacitance, an amount of charges of the mutualcapacitance is reduced to sense a touch input or a gesture.

The self-conductive sensor includes a self-capacitance formed in each ofthe sensor electrodes. The self-capacitance sensing circuit suppliescharges to the sensor electrodes and senses a touch input based on thecharge changing amount of the self-capacitance. When the conductorapproaches the self-capacitance, the capacitance of the sensor isconnected to the capacitance by the conductor in parallel so that thecapacitance is increased. Therefore, in the case of theself-capacitance, when the touch input is sensed, the capacitance of thesensor is increased.

A plurality of top holes (TH) may be provided above the display device100. For example, the sensor hole H may include an optical sensor hole,a receiver hole, a camera hole, and a finger sensor hole (or a homebutton hole).

Back plates 101 a and 101 b may be disposed below the display panel 110.When the substrate of the display panel 110 is formed of a plasticmaterial such as polyimide, a manufacturing process of a flexibledisplay device 100 is performed in a situation in which a supportsubstrate configured by glass is disposed below the display panel 110.After completing the manufacturing process, the support substrate isseparated to be released.

Even after releasing the support substrate, a component for supportingthe display panel 110 is necessary so that back plates 101 a and 101 bmay be disposed below the display panel 110 to support the display panel110.

The back plates 101 a and 101 b may suppress foreign materials frombeing attached to the lower portion of the substrate, and may serve tobuffer damage from the outside

The back plates 101 a and 101 b may be disposed to be adjacent to thebending area BA in an area of the display panel 110 other than thebending area BA.

The back plate 101 a and 101 b may include a first back plate 101 adisposed on a rear surface of the first flat portion and a second backplate 101 b disposed on a rear surface of the second flat portion. Thefirst back plate 101 a reinforces the rigidity of the first flat portionto maintain a flat state of the first flat portion. The second backplate 101 b reinforces the rigidity of the second flat portion tomaintain a flat state of the second flat portion. In the meantime, inorder to ensure the flexibility of the curved portion and easily controlthe neutral plane using the micro coating layer 145, the back plates 101a and 101 b are not located on the rear surface of the curved portion.

The back plates 101 a and 101 b may be formed of a plastic thin filmformed of polyimide (PI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polymers, and a combination of the polymers.

The first cushion tape 172 and the heat radiation sheet 173 are disposedbetween two back plates 101 a and 101 b. Specifically, the first cushiontape 172 is attached to the first back plate 101 a by the adhesive 171and the heat radiation sheet 173 is attached to the second back plate101 b by the adhesive tape 168.

In other words, the first back plate 101 a is disposed on the rearsurface of the display panel 110, the adhesive 171 is disposed on therear surface of the first back plate 101, the first cushion tape 172 isdisposed on the rear surface of the adhesive 171, the heat radiationsheet 172 is disposed on the rear surface of the first cushion tape 172,the adhesive tape 168 is disposed on the rear surface of the heatradiation sheet 172, and the second back plate 101 b is disposed on therear surface of the adhesive tape 168.

The above-described adhesive 171 may have an embossing pattern toimprove air bubbles or waterproof function when the adhesive 171 isattached onto the rear surface of the first back plate 101 a and may beconfigured as a pressure sensitive adhesive.

The first cushion tape 172 is compressed when an external force isapplied to absorb damages. Specifically, the first cushion tape 172 mayinclude a plurality of air bubbles and the plurality of air bubbles mayeffectively absorb the physical damage which is applied to the displaydevice 100. The first cushion tape 172 may be formed of acrylic foam butis not limited thereto.

The heat radiation sheet 180 is disposed below the first cushion tape172. The heat radiation sheet 180 discharges heat generated in thedisplay panel 110. In addition, the heat radiation sheet 180 may performa function of protecting the flexible display device 100 from the damagefrom the rear surface.

To this end, the heat radiation sheet 180 may be formed of a materialhaving excellent heat conductivity and mechanical rigidity. For example,the heat radiation sheet 180 may be formed of a metal material and theheat radiation sheet 173 has a thermal conductance of 3000 W/mK andconfigured by copper (Cu) or stainless steel (SUS).

The circuit element 161 may be connected to an end of the second flatportion of the display panel 110. Various wiring lines may be formed onthe circuit element 161 to transmit a signal to the pixel disposed inthe display area AA. The circuit element 161 may be formed of a materialhaving a flexibility to be bendable. That is, the circuit element 161may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

One end of the circuit element 161 is connected to the second flatportion of the display panel 110 and the other end may be attached to arear surface of the heat radiation sheet 173. Therefore, the circuitelement 161 may be bent due to the step of the second flat portion ofthe display panel 110 and the heat radiation sheet 173.

The driving IC 165 may be mounted on the second flat portion of thedisplay panel 110 and the second flat portion is connected to a wiringline formed on the circuit element 161 to supply a driving signal andthe data to the sub pixel disposed in the display area AA.

The second cushion tape 180 may be attached onto the rear surface of thecircuit element 161.

The second cushion tape 180 is compressed when an external force isapplied to absorb damages. Specifically, the second cushion tape 180 mayalso include a plurality of air bubbles and the plurality of air bubblesmay effectively absorb the physical impact which is applied to thedisplay device 100. The second cushion tape 180 may also be formed ofacrylic foam but is not limited thereto. The second cushion tape 180 mayinclude an adhesive material to be in contact with the circuit element161 and may be configured by acrylic form with a thickness of 0.2 mm orlarger but is not limited thereto.

The second cushion tape 180 may completely overlap the circuit element161. That is, the end of the second cushion tape 180 may be disposedinside more than the end of the circuit element 161. Therefore, thesecond cushion tape 180 may be supported by the circuit element 161 withrespect to the rear direction so that the second cushion tape 180 mayeffectively absorb damages which may be generated when a sensor isinserted into the bottom hole BH.

The bottom hole BH may be formed to pass through the second cushion tape380, the circuit element 161, the heat radiation sheet 173, and thefirst cushion tape 172.

Various sensors may be embodied in the bottom hole BH. For example, eventhough a fingerprint sensor may be disposed in the bottom hole BH, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto and any one of an opticalsensor hole, a receiver hole, and a camera may be disposed in the bottomhole BH.

In FIG. 8, it is illustrated that the bottom hole BH passes through acenter of the second cushion tape 180 so that the second cushion tape180 is divided into two, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. That is, the bottom hole BH passes through only one sideportion of the second cushion tape 180 so that the second cushion tape180 may not be divided into two.

In other words, with respect to a top surface of the flexible displaydevice 100, the second cushion tape 180 may be formed so as tocorrespond to a shape of the bottom hole BH. Specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 7, when the shape of the bottom hole BH is aquadrangular shape, the second cushion tape 180 may also have aquadrangular shape or a shape of “π” or “II” which encloses the bottomhole BH.

Further, in FIG. 8, it is illustrated that the bottom hole BH passesthrough the second cushion tape 180, the circuit element 161, the heatradiation sheet 173, and the first cushion tape 172. However, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto and the bottom hole BH doesnot pass through the first cushion tape 172, but passes through only thesecond cushion tape 180, the circuit element 161, and the heat radiationsheet 173.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display device accordingto the related art.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the second cushion tape 180 is notprovided as in the flexible display device according to the related art,during the process of inserting the sensor into the bottom hole BH, itis highly likely that the inserted sensor may cause the damage on thecircuit element 161 adjacent to the bottom hole BH. The damage appliedto the circuit element 161 adjacent to the bottom hole BH may betransmitted to the display panel 110. Therefore, in the flexible displaydevice according to the related art, there was a problem in that adefective image of the display panel 110 was caused by a dentingphenomenon due to the sensor inserting process.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the flexible displaydevice 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include the second cushion tape 180 at a side portion ofthe lower end of the bottom hole BH.

Therefore, even though the sensor applies the damage onto the secondcushion tape 180 adjacent to the bottom hole BH during the process ofinserting the sensor into the bottom hole BH, the second cushion tape180 may absorb the above-described damage. Therefore, the damage causedby the sensor inserting process may not be transmitted to the displaypanel 110.

That is, in the flexible display device 100 according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, even though the sensor insertingprocess is performed, the defective image due to the dent of theflexible display device 100 may be suppressed. In other words, a yieldof the process of inserting a sensor into the bottom hole of theflexible substrate may be improved.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of a flexible display deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

A flexible display device 200 according to another exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure of FIGS. 10A and 10B is substantiallyconfigured by the same configuration as the flexible display device 100according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure of FIGS.7 and 8 except for a second cushion tape 280 and an insulating tape 290.Therefore, the same reference numerals may be used for the samecomponents.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the flexible display device 200according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure mayfurther include an insulating tape 290 disposed below the circuitelement 161.

The above-described insulating tape 290 is disposed below the circuitelement 161 to cover the circuit element 161 so that the circuit element161 may be electrically protected from the external static electricity.

The insulating tape 290 may be formed of an insulating material tosuppress the static electricity from flowing into the circuit element161. That is, the insulating unit INS may be configured by an inorganicinsulating material such as silicon oxide (SiOx) or silicon nitride(SiNx) or an organic insulating material such as polyimide (PI).

As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the insulating tape 290 is disposed on arear surface of the circuit element 161 and the second cushion tape 280may be disposed on the rear surface of the insulating tape 290 or may bein contact with the rear surface of the insulating tape 290.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, the second cushion tape 280may be disposed on the rear surface of the circuit element 161 and theinsulating tape 290 may be disposed on the rear surface of the secondcushion tape 280 or may be in contact with the rear surface of thesecond cushion tape 280.

That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the insulating tape 290may be disposed below the circuit element 161.

One side of the insulating tape 290 may be disposed outside more thanone side of the circuit element 161 to cover the circuit element 161.Further, in accordance with the necessity for a design, the insulatingtape 290 extends to the driving IC 165 to cover both the circuit element161 and the driving IC 165.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a flexible display apparatus according tostill another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV′ of FIG.11.

A flexible display device 300 according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure of FIGS. 11 and 12 is substantiallyconfigured by the same configuration as the flexible display device 100according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure of FIGS.7 and 8 except for a position of the bottom hole BH and a position of asecond cushion tape 380. Therefore, the same reference numerals may beused for the same components and the description may be partiallyomitted.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, in a flexible display device 300 accordingto still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thesecond cushion tape 380 is disposed on a rear surface of the heatradiation sheet 173 and is spaced apart from the circuit element 161.That is, the second cushion tape 380 does not overlap the circuitelement 161 or is not in contact with the circuit element 161 but is incontact with the rear surface of the heat radiation sheet 173.

The second cushion tape 380 is compressed when an external force isapplied to absorb damages. Specifically, the second cushion tape 380 mayalso include a plurality of air bubbles and the plurality of air bubblesmay effectively absorb the physical impact which is applied to thedisplay device 300. The second cushion tape 380 may also be formed ofacrylic foam but is not limited thereto. The second cushion tape 380 mayinclude an adhesive material to be in contact with the heat radiationsheet 173 and may be configured by acrylic form with a thickness of 0.2mm or larger but is not limited thereto.

The bottom hole BH may be formed to pass through the second cushion tape180, the heat radiation sheet 173, and the first cushion tape 172.

That is, the bottom hole BH is also formed so as not to overlap thecircuit element 161 so that the bottom hole BH does not pass through thecircuit element 161.

Various sensors may be embodied in the bottom hole BH. For example, eventhough a fingerprint sensor may be disposed in the bottom hole BH, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto and any one of an opticalsensor hole, a receiver hole, and a camera hole may be disposed in thebottom hole BH.

In FIG. 12, it is illustrated that the bottom hole BH passes through acenter of the second cushion tape 380 so that the second cushion tape380 is divided into two, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. That is, the bottom hole BH passes through only one sideportion of the second cushion tape 380 so that the second cushion tape180 may not be divided into two.

Further, in FIG. 12, it is illustrated that the bottom hole BH passesthrough the second cushion tape 380, the heat radiation sheet 173, andthe first cushion tape 172. However, the present disclosure is notlimited thereto and the bottom hole BH does not pass through the firstcushion tape 172, but passes through only the second cushion tape 380,the circuit element 161, and the heat radiation sheet 173.

The flexible display device according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure may also include the second cushiontape 380 at a side portion of a lower end of the bottom hole BH.

Therefore, the damage caused by the sensor inserting process may not betransmitted to the display panel 110 so that even though the sensorinserting process is performed, the defective image due to the dent ofthe flexible display device 300 may be suppressed.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible display apparatusaccording to still another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

A flexible display device 400 according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure of FIG. 13 is substantiallyconfigured by the same configuration as the flexible display device 300according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure ofFIGS. 11 and 12 except for a placement relationship of a second cushiontape 480. Therefore, the same reference numerals may be used for thesame components.

In the flexible display device 400 according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, a second cushion tape 480 may bedisposed on an inner surface of the bottom hole BH.

That is, in the flexible display device 400 according to still anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the bottom hole BHpasses through the heat radiation sheet 173 and the first cushion tape172. The second cushion tape 480 may be in contact with an inner surfaceof the heat radiation sheet 173 and an inner surface of the firstcushion tape 172. The second cushion tape 480 may protrude from the rearsurface of the heat radiation sheet 173. In other words, the secondcushion tape 480 disposed below the heat radiation sheet 173 may extendto the inner surface of the heat radiation sheet 173 and the innersurface of the first cushion tape 172.

Even though it is not illustrated in the drawing, in the flexibledisplay device 400 according to still another exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the bottom hole BH may pass through only theheat radiation sheet 173, and the second cushion tape 480 may be incontact with the inner surface of the heat radiation sheet 173. Thesecond cushion tape 480 may protrude from the rear surface of the heatradiation sheet 173.

Therefore, when the sensor is inserted into the bottom hole BH of theflexible display device 400, the sensor may not apply the damage ontothe rear surface of the heat radiation sheet 173 but apply the damageonto the second cushion tape 480. However, the second cushion tape 480may absorb the above-described damage. Therefore, the damage caused bythe sensor inserting process may not be transmitted to the display panel110. That is, in the flexible display device 400 according to stillanother exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, even though thesensor inserting process is performed, the defective image due to thedent of the flexible display device 400 may be suppressed.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can also bedescribed as follows:

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a flexible displaydevice includes: a display panel which includes a display area and abending area extending from one side of the display area to be bent; afirst back plate disposed on a rear surface of the display area; a firstcushion tape disposed on a rear surface of the first back plate; a heatradiation sheet disposed on a rear surface of the first cushion tape; asecond cushion tape which is disposed below the heat radiation sheet andabsorbs a damage from the outside; and a bottom hole which passesthrough the first cushion tape, the heat radiation sheet, and the secondcushion tape.

The flexible display device according may further comprise a circuitelement which is connected to an end of the display panel and isdisposed on the rear surface of the first cushion tape.

The bottom hole may pass through the circuit element.

The bottom hole may be formed to be spaced apart from the circuitelement.

The second cushion tape completely may overlap the circuit element.

The flexible display device may further comprise an insulating tapewhich is in contact with a rear surface of the circuit element.

The flexible display device may further comprise an insulating tapewhich is in contact with a rear surface of the second cushion tape.

The second cushion tape may be in contact with an inner surface of thefirst cushion tape and an inner surface of the heat radiation sheet.

The second cushion tape may be configured by acrylic foam.

The bottom hole may pass through the circuit element.

The bottom hole may be formed inside more than the circuit element sothat the bottom hole does not pass through the circuit element.

An end of the second cushion tape may be disposed inside more than anend of the circuit element.

The flexible display device may further comprise an insulating tapewhich covers the circuit element.

The second cushion tape may extend to an inner surface of the firstcushion tape and an inner surface of the heat radiation sheet.

The second cushion tape may be configured by acrylic foam.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a flexibledisplay device includes: a display panel which includes a first flatportion, a second flat portion, and a curved portion located between thefirst flat portion and the second flat portion; a first back platedisposed on a rear surface of the first flat portion of the displaypanel; a first back plate disposed on a rear surface of the first flatportion of the display panel; a first cushion tape and a heat radiationsheet disposed between the first back plate and the second back plate; abottom hole which passes through the first cushion tape and the heatradiation sheet; and a second cushion tape which encloses an entrance ofthe bottom hole and absorbs a damage from the outside.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the flexible display deviceof the present disclosure without departing from the technical idea orscope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the presentdisclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosureprovided they come within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible display device, comprising: a displaypanel which includes a display area and a bending area extending fromone side of the display area to be bent; a first back plate disposed ona rear surface of the display area; a first cushion tape disposed on arear surface of the first back plate; a heat radiation sheet disposed ona rear surface of the first cushion tape; a second cushion tape which isdisposed below the heat radiation sheet and absorbs a damage from theoutside; and a bottom hole which passes through the first cushion tape,the heat radiation sheet, and the second cushion tape.
 2. The flexibledisplay device according to claim 1, further comprising: a circuitelement which is connected to an end of the display panel and isdisposed on the rear surface of the first cushion tape.
 3. The flexibledisplay device according to claim 2, wherein the bottom hole passesthrough the circuit element.
 4. The flexible display device according toclaim 2, wherein the bottom hole is formed to be spaced apart from thecircuit element.
 5. The flexible display device according to claim 2,wherein the second cushion tape completely overlaps the circuit element.6. The flexible display device according to claim 2, further comprising:an insulating tape which is in contact with a rear surface of thecircuit element.
 7. The flexible display device according to claim 2,further comprising: an insulating tape which is in contact with a rearsurface of the second cushion tape.
 8. The flexible display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the second cushion tape is in contact withan inner surface of the first cushion tape and an inner surface of theheat radiation sheet.
 9. The flexible display device according to claim1, wherein the second cushion tape is configured by acrylic foam.
 10. Aflexible display device, comprising: a display panel which includes afirst flat portion, a second flat portion, and a curved portion locatedbetween the first flat portion and the second flat portion; a first backplate disposed on a rear surface of the first flat portion of thedisplay panel; a second back plate disposed on a rear surface of thesecond flat portion of the display panel; a first cushion tape and aheat radiation sheet disposed between the first back plate and thesecond back plate; a bottom hole which passes through the first cushiontape and the heat radiation sheet; and a second cushion tape whichencloses an entrance of the bottom hole and absorbs a damage from theoutside.
 11. The flexible display device according to claim 10, furthercomprising: a circuit element which is connected to one end of thesecond flat portion and a rear surface of the heat radiation sheet. 12.The flexible display device according to claim 11, wherein the bottomhole passes through the circuit element.
 13. The flexible display deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the bottom hole is formed inside morethan the circuit element so that the bottom hole does not pass throughthe circuit element.
 14. The flexible display device according to claim11, wherein an end of the second cushion tape is disposed inside morethan an end of the circuit element.
 15. The flexible display deviceaccording to claim 11, further comprising: an insulating tape whichcovers the circuit element.
 16. The flexible display device according toclaim 10, wherein the second cushion tape extends to an inner surface ofthe first cushion tape and an inner surface of the heat radiation sheet.17. The flexible display device according to claim 10, wherein thesecond cushion tape is configured by acrylic foam.